Vaccinium plant named ‘FC12-029’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Vaccinium plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘FC12-029’, is provided. The new variety displays white-colored inflorescence. The foliage is medium green colored. The vegetation is moderately vigorous and the growth habit is mounded to weeping. A good crop load of small fruit is formed.

Botanical/commercial classification:

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Vaccinium(angustifolium x myrsinites) x corymbosum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘FC12-029’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofVaccinium plant botanically known as Vaccinium (angustifolium xmyrsinites) x corymbosum hybrid and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘FC12-029’.

The new cultivar was created in a controlled breeding program in Lowell,Oreg. during May 2010. The objective of the breeding program was thedevelopment of superior Vaccinium cultivars that meet the evolving needsof the blueberry and home enthusiast industries.

The new Vaccinium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale parent (i.e., seed parent) of the new cultivar is ‘NC-4339’, anon-introduced, non-patented breeder seedling. The male parent (i.e.,pollen parent) of the new cultivar is ‘ZF09-246’, a non-introduced,non-patented breeder seedling.

The parentage can be summarized as follows:‘NC-4339’ x ‘ZF09-246’

The new cultivar was obtained and selected as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during July2012 in a controlled environment in Lowell, Oreg.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood stem cuttings since2012 in Lowell, Oreg. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproducestrue to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described,firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar of the present invention possesses the followingcombination of characteristics, which have been repeatedly observed andcan be used to distinguish ‘FC12-029’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofVaccinium plant:

-   -   (a) forms white colored inflorescences,    -   (b) exhibits medium green foliage,    -   (c) forms moderately vigorous, mounded to weeping growth habit,        and    -   (d) produces a good crop load of small fruit.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Morespecifically, ‘NC-4339’ (i.e., seed parent) produces more new canes,forms smaller leaves and exhibits more red bark color compared to thenew variety. Additionally, ‘ZF09-249’ (i.e., pollen parent) producessmaller and less rounded berries with more luster and less coldhardiness compared to the new variety. Moreover, the new variety can bereadily distinguished from non-parental related similar varieties. Ofthe many commercially available Vaccinium cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is ‘ZF08-095’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.25,467). However, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘ZF08-095’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a wide and low growth habit,        whereas the plants of ‘ZF08-095’ have a round growth habit;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have leaves that are lighter green        and less glossy than plants of ‘ZF08-095’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalspecimen of the new variety.

The illustrated Vaccinium plant of the new variety in FIG. 1 wasapproximately two years of age and was grown in Cochranville, Pa. inApril 2019. The illustrated Vaccinium plant of the new variety in FIG. 2was approximately three years of age and was grown outdoors in theground in Lowell, Oreg. in July 2017.

FIG. 1—illustrates a close-up view of a flower cluster of ‘FC12-029’.

FIG. 2—illustrates a side view of a plant of ‘FC12-029’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is thatof The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, London,England, 2015 edition), except where general color terms of ordinarysignificance are used. The terminology which precedes reference to thechart has been added to indicate the corresponding color in more commonterms. The color values were determined under natural light conditionsin Cochranville, Pa. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plants.

-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            wide and low growth habit, which is mounded to weeping.        -   Size.—Height: from soil level to top of plant plane is            approximately 35.0 cm. — Width: approximately 60.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances            branching. — Quantity of lateral branches per plant:            approximately 10 main branches.        -   Branch.—Strength: strong. — Length: approximately 25.0 cm. —            Diameter: approximately 4.0 mm. — Length of central            internode: approximately 2.0 cm. — Texture: mostly smooth            with some rough areas where the wood is starting to become            harder. — Color of mature stems: commonly mostly            Yellow-Green Group 146B with some fissures of near            Grey-Brown Group N199B where the wood is starting to become            harder.-   Foliage:    -   -   General description.—Fragrance: none detected. — Form:            simple. — Arrangement: alternate.        -   Leaves.—Shape: elliptic. — Margin: entire. — Apex: acute. —            Base: cuneate. — Venation pattern: pinnate. — Length of            mature leaf: approximately 4.5 cm. — Width of mature leaf:            approximately 2.0 cm. — Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            glabrous. — Color of upper surface of young foliage:            commonly near Green Group 143A with some overtones of            Greyed-Orange Group 177A with indistinguishable venation. —            Color of lower surface of young foliage: commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 146B with venation of near Yellow-Green            Group 146C. — Color of upper surface of mature foliage:            commonly near Green Group 137A with venation of near Green            Group 137B. — Color of lower surface of mature foliage:            commonly near Green Group 137C with venation of near Green            Group 137D.        -   Petiole.—Length: approximately 2.0 mm. — Diameter:            approximately 1.0 mm. — Texture: glabrous. — Color: commonly            near Yellow-Green Group 144B.-   Flowering:    -   -   Flowering season.—Flowers in spring in southeastern            Pennsylvania.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately one week.-   Flower:    -   -   General description.—Shape: urceolate. — Quantity per plant:            approximately 200 fully open on a plant at a given time. —            Fragrance: very slight, sweet. — Aspect: pendulous.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: oval. — Length:            approximately 1.1 cm. — Diameter: approximately 0.5 cm. —            Color: commonly close to White Group N155B.        -   Corolla.—Color commonly near White Group NN155B. — Length:            approximately 8.0 mm. — Width: approximately 6.0 mm. —            Aperture width: approximately 3.0 mm.        -   Calyx.—Shape: star-shaped. — Depth: approximately 4.0 mm. —            Diameter: approximately 6.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5. — Shape: ovate. — Margin: entire. —            Apex: acute. — Base: fused. — Length: approximately 4.0 mm.            — Width: approximately 2.0 mm. — Texture of upper surface:            glabrous. — Texture of lower surface: glabrous. — Color of            upper and lower surfaces: commonly near Green Group 143C.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: strong. — Shape: rounded. — Aspect:            erect to about 45° from branch axis. — Length: approximately            2.0 cm. — Diameter: approximately 2.0 mm. — Texture:            glabrous. — Color: commonly near Green Group 143A.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: strong. — Shape: rounded. — Aspect:            pendulous to about 45° from branch axis. — Length:            approximately 1.0 cm. — Diameter: approximately 1.0 mm. —            Texture: glabrous. — Color: commonly near Green Group 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—        -   Androecium.—Stamen quantity per flower: approximately 10. —            Stamen length: approximately 4.0 mm. — Anther shape: narrow            oblong. — Anther length: approximately 2.5 mm. — Anther            color: commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 165B. — Pollen            amount: not observed.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. — Pistil length:            approximately 1.0 cm. — Stigma shape: flat disk. — Stigma            color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 145A. — Style            length: approximately 7.5 mm. — Style color: commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 145B. — Ovary length: approximately            2.0 mm. — Ovary color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group            146C.-   Fruit:    -   -   Date of 50% maturity.—July in Southeastern Pennsylvania.        -   Fruit development period.—80 to 85 days. Fruiting on            one-year old shoots, not found on current season wood in            most circumstances.        -   Berry surface wax abundance.—Low.        -   Fruit bloom intensity.—Low.        -   Berry flesh color.—Commonly near Greyed-Green Group 198B.        -   Berry size.—Height from calyx to scar: 1.0 cm. — Diameter            1.2 cm.        -   Berry shape.—Semi-spherical.        -   Berry firmness.—Medium firm.        -   Berry flavor and texture.—Very tart flavor, smooth texture.        -   Suitability of mechanical harvesting.—Not suitable.        -   Uses.—Intended for home gardens, container gardening, and/or            ornamental uses.-   Seed:    -   -   Seed abundance in fruit.—Low, with 2 under-developed seeds            per berry.        -   Seed color.—commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 166A.        -   Seed size.—1.0 mm long; 0.5 mm wide for under-developed            seeds.-   Development:    -   -   Disease and pest resistance.—Resistance to pathogens and            pests common to Vaccinium has not been observed.        -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately one year from a rooted            cutting to finish in a one-gallon container.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5.

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) formswhite colored inflorescences, (b) exhibits medium green foliage, (c)forms moderately vigorous, mounded to weeping growth habit, and (d)produces a good crop load of small fruit; substantially as herein shownand described.